An MQ-9 Guardian drone, operated by the US Border Patrol and Customs (CBP), has profoundly penetrated Mexican airspace on Thursday on an unusual mission that coincides with Trump government plans to intensify military actions against drug cartels.
The flight, tracked by public systems, ran over 1,200 km, including about 965 km over Mexican territory, before disappearing from the radars. Mexican authorities say the operation was carried out at the request of the Mexican government, but analysts suspect that the drone may be involved in surveillance against the La Nueva Michoacana Cartel (LNFM), known for US fentanyl trafficking.
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The mission occurs a week after revelations that President Trump secretly authorized the use of military forces against Latin American cartels, classified as terrorist organizations. Although CBP drones are not armed, their ability to surveillance, including high precision radars and electro-optical sensors, makes them valuable tools for monitoring strategic targets. Safety experts suggest that the LNFM -dominated surrounded area can house sought after leaders or drug laboratories, priority targets for the US.
This is not the first time US drones operate in Mexico, but the depth and duration of the flight have drawn attention. Previous reports indicate that the CIA would also be using MQ-9 united reapers to spy on cartels in an operation started during the Biden government.
While authorities avoid confirming details, the movement reinforces the growing militarization of the fight against drug trafficking, with the US expanding its presence in the region, even if the exact mission of this drone remains, for now, a mystery.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: x @usairforce | This content was created with the help of AI and revised by the editorial team
US Reaper drone orbiting deep inside Mexico
Is this like US an anti-cartel operation? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6LdQiQcKcp
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 13, 2025
